Tunnel-kiln car



l atented Apr. 22, 1936' GEORGE nj ivronn rs, on NEW CASTLE; PENNSYLVA IA, ASSIGNOR mo nw CASTLE REFRACTORIES COMPANY, on NEW casrL'E; isnNNstzimrmvrA,.A CORPORATION or DELAWARE TUNNELunriNcan I lAnpl icationhfiled August 27, 192s. Serial No. 302,232.

The present invention relatesto the construction of the super-structure of kiln cars adapted for conveying material to be heat treated through continuous tunnel kilns.

Kiln car bodies are usually composed'of a plurality of refractory blocks onwliich slabs 1 of refractory material are positioned. A plurality of transverse girders of refractory material are positioned at longitudinally spaced 1 points on the refractory slabs. and spaced, apart to provide horizontal passages for the circulating kiln atmosphere. In kiln cars of the type towhich the present inventionis particularly applicable, a plurality of flat slabs of refractory material arepositioned on the transverse girders with the edge portions of each pair of adjacent slabs supported on one of the girders. The slabs are spaced closely together and serve as a support for the material to be heat treated. 7

With certain classes of'article's, it is neces-' sary to provide a sand setting on the work "supportingslabs due to the nature of the ma- 'terial being treated. In kiln operationsof this kind it has been found that the sand works down into the j ointsbetween the slabs and refractory blocks and when sufficient sand has collected in the joints, and the car is v passed through the kiln; the sand expands and tends'to force apart the refractory blocks comprising the car body. Such expansion tends to rapidly destroy the car and is liable to cause the loadto collapse; I

To prevent infiltration ofsand the joints between the blocks are covered wherever possible. Practically, however it is 'dificult to employ covered. plates for the jo-intsbetween the refractory slabs'formingthe loading deck of the car because such plates would interfere with the setting of the ware.

The object of my present invention is .to

provide an improved construction and arrangement of the refractory elements com .posing the upper portion of the car body which is characterized by the provisions for collecting and disposing of any sand filtering down between the joints of the refractoryele ment's.

' The various features of novelty which characterizes my invention are pointed out form of girder. f e

In thedrawings and referring first to the v as a one piece steel casting. frame member is provided with an. upstand The usual wheels extend the full width of the car.

with particularity the claims annexed'to and forming a part of this'specificatio'n. For a'better understanding of the lnvent'ion, however, and the advantages possessed by it reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I haveillustrated' and described a" preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3

a kiln ear embO Y is an end elevation of a "modified construction shown in Figs. 1 and2,A rep; resents a metallic frame member forming the bottom of the car body and preferably made As shownjthef' ing marginal flange A. B are 'journalled: in the member A 'and the latter is provided as shown with a concrete I filling C which extends to'a level'somewhatl belowthe upper edge of themarginal flange I I A. Seated on the concrete layer C are a plu- 1 I rality ofmassive. refractory blocks As shown there are fourof these blocks and each 7 of which extends the full width of the earl Mounted onthe tier of blocks D is a second tier of refractory blocksE. The blocks E are also substantially rectangular in outline and s As shown; the blocks E are staggered with respect to the in the lower tierare covered by a block in the upper tier. A platform composed of large 1 lower tier of blocks so that each of the joints slabs H of refractory material is mounted on the upper side of the tier of blocks E. Each of the slabs H is rectangular in out-line and cross section and the slabs are positioned on theuppe'r tier of blocks overthe joints therei in with their side edges in' contactwi'th one another. I Mounted on th e corrugated uppersurface of the platformH are a series o'fspaced apart full width ofthe car and is alone piece block of refractory material. *As shown there are i transverse girders J each of which extends the V ice five of these girders, J, J J J and J and the girders J and J 5 are located along the front and rear edges of the car respectively. The girders J J and J are positioned over the joints, formed by the adjacent edges of the slabs H. The girders J and J 5 may be of the usual I beamqform Whilethe-girders J J 3 and J are of general H form with a longitudinal recess or groove J 6 semi-circular in crossisectioniformed in the top surface there-V of; A similar groove J 7 is preferably formed on the undersides thereof, although only'one groove may be used as shown in Fig. 3. .i .7

A work supporting platform composed-of large refractory slabs M rectangular in cross m portedonthe flat upper surface ofthe girders J. The slabsare so arranged that the joint between thevertical' side edgeportions M.

ofeachpair of slabs is. positioned centrally i of the groove J 6 of the corresponding supporting girder.

The present invention is particularly designed for use where, the goods to be heat 1 The groovesare of sufficient size to accomtreated are set in sand distributed on the Work s supporting platform. With the presentconstructionlany sand which works down betweenthe. joints of; the slabs M will fall into thegrovesJ formed in the transverse girders.

modate all of the sand which may drop during onepassage of the car through the kiln.

After the car is Withdrawn from the kiln,

' means. of ahoolrorvacuum pipe,

the sand is removed from the grooves by The ad- Vantagesof'the lower grooves J are that such groovesdecrease the amount of: material and weightofithe girders a-ndlthat the girders may be t urned iover when desirable to permit the With this construction. of the girders the grooves J' to act asthesand collecting means.

edges be; theslabs M. canbe made vertical which. permits their: reversal when the slabs begin to warp due to continued use, In this Way thetslab s have a longer useful life than inprior; constructions where the slabs 1 generally formed. with beveled edges; By

supporting adjacent slabs on each of tie girders agreater cohesion of theiwork supporting platform 18 secured. The present-1nvention isalso adapted for use where more tl l i.1l1 'OI18 worksupportmg deck 1s. used and t-heifpresentarrangement for supporting the platform slabs provides a better. support for scribedx'the best form of embodiment of my. iniventioninow known to me, it will.be ap-. I parenttoythose skilled in the art that changes the postssupporting the upper deck which are, mounted along. the joints between the sl'abs M. V v a While in accordance with the provisions of, the statutes, I have illustrated and deof my invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features. 7

Having now described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: i 1 r a 1. A tunnel kiln car comprising a metallic bottom frame mmeber, a refractory body. portion mounted thereon, vtransverse girders mounted on said body portion and having a longitudinally extending recess in the top surface there0f,and.a goods supporting platform consisting ofa plurality of slabs supportedbysaid girders, adjacent slabs being arranged with the joint tlierebetween positioned over oner of said recesses; 4

2. A tunnel'kiln car'comprising a metallic bottom frame member, a refractory body portion mounted thereon, transverse girders mounted on. said body'portion and each having a longitudinally extending recess the topsurface thereof anda goods supporting platform consisting efa plurality o fractoryslabs having vertical edge portions supported by said igirders, adjacent slabs being, arranged with the transverse joint therebetweenpositioned over one of said re 6. A refractory rail forsupporting kiln car tops having a generally rectangular cross sectional outline and having least its top face, grooved longitudinally from end to end thereof, 7 a j v Signed at New Castle, in the county of Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, this Q-Bdrdayof August, A. D. 1928. a

v GEORGE D. MORRIS; 

